Feather and Scroll (The Shifter Chronicles 11)

By M.D. Grimm

Agent Pan has spent most of his adult life protecting shapeshifters from the Knights—an organization bent on their annihilation—and keeping the secret war in the shadows where it belongs. But the Knights are growing bolder, and a new threat has resurfaced after being buried in the ocean for centuries.

An ancient scroll, a key to a devastating weapon, is now in the hands of a recalcitrant Russian hawk shifter named Viktor. As a bird shifter, he knows his duty is to protect the scroll, but he wants nothing to do with the war. He leads a quiet life and wants to keep it that way. But when agents come knocking on his door, he finds it difficult to resist the charms of Agent Pan, especially since this isn’t their first meeting.

Three years earlier they spent a passionate weekend together, neither aware of the other’s true identity. Viktor never really got over Pan. Now with sexual tension at its peak, they must learn to trust each other and work as a team to protect not only their loved ones, but every shifter in the world.

Second Edition with revised text.

• Language: English
• Publisher: M.D. Grimm
• Release date: Sep 7, 2021
• ISBN: 9781005404307

M.D. Grimm

M.D. Grimm has wanted to write stories since second grade (kind of young to make life decisions, but whatever) and nothing has changed since then (well, plenty of things actually, but not that!). Thankfully, she has indulgent parents who let her dream, but also made sure she understood she’d need a steady job to pay the bills (they never let her forget it!). After graduating from the University of Oregon and majoring in English, (let’s be honest: useless degree, what else was she going to do with it?) she started on her writing career and couldn’t be happier. Working by day and writing by night (or any spare time she can carve out), she enjoys embarking on romantic quests and daring adventures (living vicariously, you could say) and creating characters that always triumph against the villain, (or else what’s the point?) finding their soul mate in the process.

Book preview

Feather and Scroll

The Shifter Chronicles 11

Scrolls Book Five

M.D. Grimm

Feather and Scroll

The Shifter Chronicles 11

Scrolls Book Five

M.D. Grimm

Cover Art by Catt Ford

Copyright 2021 M.D. Grimm

Smashwords Edition

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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of the author’s imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Epilogue

Want To Continue The Series?

Kindred Truths excerpt

About This Book

Chronological List of Series

About M.D. Grimm

Other Titles by M.D. Grimm

Connect with M.D. Grimm

Prologue

A ding from his computer informed him he had a new email. Seeing it was urgent, he opened it, narrowing his stone-gray eyes in curiosity. As he read he became excited. His inertia was about to change, and he relished the action.

Guys! Get in here!

Four other people lounging in the next room sprang to their feet and rushed over in response to his excited tone.

What is it, Kirk? Barbara asked. A long white dress covered her pale skinny frame while her white-blonde hair was pulled carelessly into a ponytail.

Kirk spun around in his computer chair and grinned fiercely. We finally have a fucking assignment, that’s what.

About time, Miles said. He was a bland man with skin, hair, and eyes the same shade of dark brown. I was almost thinking they’d forgotten about us.

What does the assignment entail? Robyn asked. She was a striking, curvaceous brunette beauty with flawless deep-umber skin whose parents had emigrated from the Caribbean. Robyn could charm information out of anyone. Though that wasn’t her special ability, the one handed down by her fae ancestry. Her ability was healing, and that made her perfect as a nurse.

We’re to be on the lookout for these people. Kirk tapped the keyboard, and two photos popped up on screen.

Barbara hissed. Agents.

It didn’t surprise Kirk that Barbara knew agents on sight. She had an eidetic memory and had gone through all the files the Knights acquired on the Agency. Though that was before the Agency invaded their headquarters, forcing them to destroy most of the files—both those about the Agency and the Knights’ own. So much precious information lost. But it was a needed sacrifice to keep their secrets from those fucking busybodies.

And there’s an A for Barbara, Kirk said. They’re Agents Pan and Jin. But we’re also looking out for two shifter teens named Tommy and Natasha. Got their descriptions right here. Hmm. Apparently the boy’s a wolf and the girl’s a… hawk? Thought birds were extinct. No matter. Kirk waved that away. They’re traveling from Washington and could be coming here.

Any idea as to their destination? Allen asked. He was a pasty-white portly man many would see as weak—until he reshaped a metal pole as if it were a balloon animal. Controlling metal was his ability.

Kirk shook his head. He looked proudly at his team as they began to discuss plans and strategies. The five of them had been stationed in Portland, Oregon for going on five years now. They were the biggest unit the Knights had in Oregon. He’d been directed by the commander—Gregor Whitefield himself—to choose four other knights and set up in the large city. They were to put themselves in places of authority or where they would have the greatest interaction with the public. They were to be eyes and ears only, unless otherwise directed. Kirk had become an expert on spotting a shifter upon first viewing, in either of their forms. The same could be said for the rest of his team.

Kirk was a sergeant of the local PD, Barbara and Robyn were nurses at two different hospitals, Miles was a custodian at the university—giving him access to the entire community—and Allen worked for ODOT, giving him access to all the traffic cameras.

What’d they do? Miles asked. Why does the commander want them?

They have an object of importance to Arcas, Kirk said, scanning the email again. We aren’t to approach the subjects. Once spotted we contact Gregor, and he gives us further commands.

Doesn’t sound like fun, Miles said gruffly.

Better than sitting on our asses, Barbara said, her tone scolding. "I’d rather do this than help the weak. You have no idea how fucking stupid it is to work in a hospital. Ill people everywhere. Makes me sick."

It’s not that bad— Robyn said, trying to soothe.

Speak for yourself, princess, Barbara said acidly. You like the attention you garner from saving lives. The invalids disgust me.

Kirk smiled at Barbara. The price we pay.

Barbara scowled at him. Kirk always found that scowl sexy and would show her just how much when night fell.

Kirk stood. Look alive, people. It’s showtime.

Chapter One

The hawk’s cry is as sharp as its beak.

~ Edward Abbey

Viktor picked up his cell for the hundredth time and put it down for the hundredth time. Where was she? Worry knotted his gut, but he didn’t want to be a nag. Besides, he had only himself to blame for Natasha running off with Tommy. He didn’t have anything horrible to say about the kid other than his attitude at times. He liked Tommy—he really did. But he never approved of them together. He admitted his biggest problem came from the fact Tommy was a wolf shifter. He wasn’t biased toward other shifters—far from it! But others were. Many others were loud proponents of pure matings: wolf with wolf, hawk with hawk, etc. Some made their opinions known with extreme violence—more so these days than in the past.

Yes, he’d taken Tommy in, fed him, and clothed him. It was the decent thing to do. The poor kid had obviously been through hell, and Viktor was in a position to do something about it. But then Natasha began to hang around Tommy, and something seemed to click between them. But he worried. Tommy obviously had a past, and Viktor didn’t want anything to bring his sister to harm. She could be flighty and impulsive sometimes. He loved his sister to death and knew himself to be overprotective, but what could he do? There was a fifteen-year age gap between them, and with both parents gone, he had to make sure she grew up to be a dignified hawk shifter.

He wondered if he would survive the stress of being a parent to his little sister.

Viktor picked up his cell again. Scowling deeply, he slammed it back down on the kitchen counter and stood. He paced the first floor of the cozy house and knew he should have opened his antique shop an hour earlier, but how could he concentrate when Natasha could be who the hell knew where? What had Tommy dragged her into?

Viktor stopped pacing and ran his fingers roughly through his dark hair. Had they really run away? Run to Vegas and married? His stomach pitched. Oh Phoenix, please, anything but that!

Why did he have to nag her so? He swore to himself that when—please Phoenix, when—she came home, he would make a stringent effort to accept their relationship. It was obvious how much they loved each other. He once hoped it was just a passing fancy, but in his gut, he always knew better. He needed to look beneficently on their relationship, or he would lose his sister. Tommy wasn’t bad, but he was trouble. Though, Viktor admitted, his sister had found enough trouble on her own before Tommy came into the picture.

Viktor scowled again, berating himself. It was his fucking fault for arguing with her right before he traveled to New York… then leaving them alone for a week. Damn conference! He came home to find her gone, with a voicemail on his home phone from the local high school asking about the teens. He called the school and claimed a family emergency had taken them away, and could the school be understanding and send by the needed homework? He avoided scheduling makeup exams until he was certain Natasha and Tommy were coming home.

He should call her. But would she even answer?

The sound of a key turning in the lock of the front door had Viktor spinning around. He rushed out of the kitchen and stopped short in the living room as the door opened. His eyes widened as Natasha walked in. She looked tired, strained, and like she obviously hadn’t slept recently, but she was blessedly unharmed. She carried a backpack slung over one shoulder, and only after shutting the door and locking it again did she look at him. Her sharp eyes held uncertainty.

Viktor’s breath caught at the sight of her. Relief flooded through him, making him weak.

Natasha.

Viktor. I—

He swept her up in a hug—easily accomplished since she was a petite 115 when wet, and he was a giant at 6’5"—and nearly crushed her.

Natasha, I am so sorry. I am so glad you are home! His Russian accent thickened from the emotions overwhelming him.

It thrilled him when she wrapped her arms tightly around his neck and held on. They argued more often than not, and foul words were said in spite, but at the end of the day, they loved each other. It was good they both remembered that.

Please do not run out like that again, he said softly against her ear. I am so worried. Then he spoke in a long spat of Russian, his heart thudding in his ears.

I won’t. I’m sorry. I won’t. Natasha pressed her face into his chest. I’m sorry I worried you.

Viktor stroked her hair. It wasn’t uncommon for people to be skeptical when told they were brother and sister. They didn’t look much alike. They were both pale, but Viktor had black hair and pale blue eyes while Natasha’s hair was a rusty bronze and her eyes were hazel. Viktor had spent most of his life in Russia and still retained the accent, but Natasha had never set foot in the motherland and sounded firmly American.

Their parents were young when they met. Their father, a native Russian, visited America and became enraptured by their mother. As with most infatuations, it didn’t last, but their mother was already pregnant with Viktor. They married and moved to Russia. Then they moved to the US when Viktor was fourteen. Natasha was conceived by accident, and by then, their parents were firmly out of love with each other. Instead of divorcing, they simply separated. Viktor returned to Russia with their father, and Natasha was raised alone by their mother. During those years, Viktor only saw Natasha in photos and Skype sessions. He finally reunited with her in person five years ago when he moved permanently back to the States after their mother died in a vehicular accident. Their father had already died from a heart attack a couple years before that.

They both still chafed at the setup, but Natasha was only seventeen, and Viktor was determined to do right by her. When she turned eighteen, she would be free of his control, for good or ill.

I am sorry for what I say to you, Viktor said. And for what I say about Tommy. I will not say such things again.

I called you some things too, Natasha said. For that I’m sorry.

Viktor smiled. "We both have tempers, da?"

Da. Natasha pulled back and smiled. But then Viktor felt something. He frowned and looked around before realizing the strange pulsing sensation was coming from Natasha’s bag. He stared at it for a moment before gazing at Natasha. Natasha saw where his attention had drifted, and her eyes widened.

Viktor narrowed his eyes. He didn’t need to say a word.

I… I— Natasha said, stumbling. There was a reason Tommy and I left.

And Tommy? Where is he? He mentally kicked himself for not inquiring sooner. Worry, so lately relieved, bloomed forth again.

Natasha took a deep breath. Don’t get pissed, okay?

Viktor crossed his arms over his chest. Speak.

Natasha huffed out a breath. Don’t get all Russian on me.

Viktor grunted, glaring. His inner hawk ruffled his feathers and clicked his beak in irritation. Neither he nor his hawk appreciated her challenge to his authority. It was impossible to balance being her superior and her friend. He got a sinking feeling in his stomach his sister had done something horribly stupid and/or dangerous.

Do you remember those legends you told me once? That night, a couple years back, when I was sick? You told me about bird guardians and magical scrolls….

The sinking feeling became a cramp. What of them?

Well…. Natasha opened her bag and pulled out a long, thin tube. It was evident the tube was the origin of the pulsing.

Viktor gasped and backed away, heart pounding. Natasha! What did you do?

Tommy called dibs on the bathroom after Pan emerged from it. It was a small hotel room, but they wouldn’t be staying long. The clerk had leered at them, but Pan gave him enough money to keep his mouth shut. Pan limped over to where Jin stood, wondering when Lila would arrive. They were finally in Portland, Oregon, and after Lila healed him, they would go find Tommy’s girlfriend, and hopefully the damn scroll.

How do you want to play this? Pan asked Jin as he carefully sat on the bed. His ribs were killing him.

Jin regarded him silently. Pan knew from personal experience Jin’s placid Japanese features hid a quick and deadly mind. Pan liked to tease Jin that he was a modern ninja—which seemed to fit since he always wore tight black clothing—but his partner of five years never seemed pleased by that comparison. One time he said he’d rather be a samurai.

Know all the players, he said simply.

Pan nodded. Agreed. What did Tommy say Natasha’s brother’s name was again?

Viktor.

Right. Hawk shifter. Pan sighed. He’s not going to give up that scroll easily, Jin. With any other shifter, we stand half a chance. But with a bird shifter? They see it as their duty, if the legends are to be believed.

We always believe the legends, Jin said.

Pan smirked. "And this scroll has been lost for centuries. I really don’t know what Captain Odin expects us to do. I mean, we want shifters as allies, right? We’re fighting this war for them."

For the world, Jin said softly. He didn’t often interrupt, and it always threw Pan off his stride.

Right. The world. Pan shook his head. A few strands of dark hair fell out of his ponytail into his brown eyes, and he absently brushed them away. Got any ideas how to convince a bird shifter to abandon his sacred duty?

Jin shrugged elegantly.

Pan snorted. You’re no help.

The mission was complicated from the start. From the moment Derek’s pack called the Agency to request assistance against the Knights, Pan felt like he’d been jumping from one foot to the other, never finding his balance. The Agency only recently found archival evidence of the existence of four ancient scrolls, but the accounts were vague and incomplete. All the information was garnered by second or thirdhand sources. No agent had ever seen one of the magical scrolls.

What information they had came from an agent’s chance encounter with a shark shifter and his human mate in the early 1980s. The